Diocesan Council Newsletter

March 25, 2022

Vincentian Community News

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord!

"The angel Gabriel was sent from God

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,

of the house of David,

and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said,

“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

(Luke 1:26-28)

Tornado Survivors in Central Texas

Photo Credit: KVUE

"May God bring consolation to our brothers and sisters. Through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, may her Son, Jesus Christ, protect and comfort us."

- Bishop Joe Vasquez

Please keep in your prayers those impacted by the tornadoes that hit Central Texas Monday.

Disaster Response

On March 22, 2022, Governor Abbott issued a disaster declaration for the following counties in the Austin Diocese. Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis, and Williamson Counties. People who have had their homes damaged by the tornadoes can reach out to the Red Cross for help by calling 1-833-583-3115. Red Cross provides shelter, food and mental health support to those impacted by tornadoes.

The Center on Disability and Development has a resource directory for people with disabilities and their families at dcr.tamu.edu. Those affected can also reach out for help from the Austin Disaster Relief Network, a collaboration of local churches and trained volunteers who aid people impacted by disasters. The organization has opened a Central Texas Tornadoes Relief Fund to help those in need. Call the disaster survivor hotline for assistance: 512-806-0800.

Serving in Hope

Mark you calendars! Serving in Hope will be held Wednesday, May 11 at noon at St. William Catholic Church. This is our largest fundraiser of the year! Participants will enjoy a complimentary meal while learning about the mission and work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

You can help make this a success by becoming a table captain, volunteer, and by inviting your network. The deadline to RSVP is April 27, 2022. For more information, contact the Director of Development and Marketing, Kanobia Russell-Blackmon at kanobia@ssvdp.org.

Weekly Lenten Reflection Series

Join the National Formation Director and the Voice of the Poor for a series of Lenten reflections on Wednesday evenings at 6:00pm. We will explore how we are collaborating with other organizations to serve the whole person as well as unmet needs.

Click here to register.

March 30: Presenters: Sally Wolfe - Denver, Co, Alicia Reyes – St Vincent de Paul Planada, Sacred Heart, Plana, California
April 6: Reflection: The Good Samaritan: Who Was the Neighbor?

St. Dominic Savio Students Give Back!

Students from St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School volunteered at the Vincentian Family Center Tuesday. This was part of their Imago Christi Day where students learn how and why to serve the community, the poor, and vulnerable. The group at the VFC sorted jewelry, clothes, and shoes in the Thrift Store and power washed the outside of the store. Students also volunteered in Client Services.

General Assembly

The 2022 General Assembly will be held on Saturday, May 21 at St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church in Austin from 9:00am - 2:00pm. National Vincentian Formation Director Tim Williams will be our guest speaker. Registration is open now. Just click on this link.

Midyear Meeting Update

Nearly 200 Vincentians gathered last week for the Midyear Meeting in St. Louis. The National Board of Directors, National Council Members, Executive Directors, and other Vincentian leaders came together to share ideas after a three-year hiatus.

In order to give those not in attendance the chance to see the various presentations, the National Office staff has created a playlist of the video recordings from the meeting. You can access them here.

National Webinars

In Fréderic Ozanam’s original vision for the Society, he expressed a desire that Vincentians use their meetings as an opportunity to serve neighbors in need and personal spiritual growth. When Vincentians gather together at traditional meetings and innovative webinars, they can share their talents and resources in service of our neighbors in need.

Please check out these great opportunities for the Fred Talks - great 4 - 5 minute videos that can be used for reflection at your Conference meetings!

SVDP National Fred Talks

COVID-19 Orders Lifted

The City of Austin and Travis County have lifted all COVID-19 emergency rules and orders, however, Austin-Travis County still remains at Stage 2. Masking in most City facilities are now optional. Orders regarding masking on public school campuses and signage requirements for businesses are no longer in effect. Health officials encourage those who are high risk or care for someone who is high risk to wear a mask indoors.

The policy in the SVdP Thrift Store and the Council Offices is now "Wearing a mask is optional."

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store

The Thrift Store is in need of volunteers to serve as greeters, cashiers, donation sorters, taggers, and to assist customers in various departments. Are you interested in volunteering? You can sign up by clicking on this link .

4th Sunday of Lent

March 27, 2022

Gospel: (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32)

Jesus told this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself …to tend swine. …Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; make me one of your hired servants.”

Reflection:

It is the father in the parable who models for us the mercy of our heavenly Father. The prodigal son is brought to repentance because he was “dying from hunger.” There is nothing he does to deserve the response of the father except to repent and to return. What leads us to decide to repent? Like the prodigal son, “changing our minds” is probably precipitated by some specific catalyst—probably not physical hunger, but possible by spiritual hunger. The penance of Lent can be the external factor that brings us to realize our life is much richer when we turn from our sinful ways and turn to God who gives life. (Living Liturgy, p.84)

Vincentian Meditation:

This parable tells us most about the meaning of conversion, and is found in two verbs. The request the younger son makes to his father is this: “Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.” Toward the end of the parable, when the younger son returns home, the request he makes of his father is this: “Father, make me one of your hired servants.” Between the “give me” at the beginning and the “make me” at the end lies the story of conversion. There is an altogether different attitude of mind expressed in the “give me my money” and “make me one of your hired servants.” In the story of conversion you will find that the starting point is a selfish demand, and the finishing point is a readiness to be a servant. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p.698)

Have you experienced a conversion from “give me” to “make me your servant?"

Prayer Requests

Do you have a prayer request? Send us your prayers at prayerrequest@ssvdp.org.

We will offer them up in prayer weekly.

National Gazette Questions and Answers

Q: The Treasurer’s Manual recommends that we keep copies of donor checks. If our bank stores electronic copies of checks that are deposited to the account, are hard copies necessary? We have a Conference concerned about having the donor’s banking info and keeping that information confidential – is that a valid concern?

A: So long as checks and deposits are accessible through the bank, there is no need to keep them. The confidentiality issue is not a concern if the Treasurer is following proper precautions. It is the Treasurer’s responsibility to ensure proper security of Conference financials.

Preguntas y Respuestas de la

Oficina Nacional

P: El Manual del Tesorero recomienda que mantengamos copias de los cheques de los donantes. Si nuestro banco almacena copias electrónicas de los cheques que se depositan en la cuenta, ¿son necesarias las copias impresas? Tenemos una Conferencia preocupada por tener la información bancaria del donante y mantener esa información confidencial. ¿Es esa una preocupación válida?

R: Siempre que se pueda acceder a los cheques y depósitos a través del banco, no hay necesidad de conservarlos. El tema de la confidencialidad no es una preocupación si el Tesorero sigue las precauciones adecuadas. Es responsabilidad del Tesorero garantizar la seguridad adecuada de las finanzas de la Conferencia.

Volunteer Opportunities

You can make a difference by sharing your time and talents. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Austin has new volunteer opportunities available in the Thrift Store, Client Services, and Council Office. We now have a new and easy way for you to sign up. Visit the volunteer page on ssvdp.org/volunteer, complete the form, and submit it. You will be contacted by a Council staff member.

Ready to volunteer? Click on this link to sign up!

Connect with us:

Donate your vehicle to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We make donating your car, truck, motorcycle, or boat easy. Call 1-800-317-SVDP (7837) or visit www.ssvdp.org/vehicle-donation. The process is free and easy!

Partner Programs

An easy and free way to support the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to join our partner programs. Sign up for one or both of the programs, and our partner agencies will donate a portion of their proceeds from your purchases to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. You can find more information by clicking this link.